Mentor and Mentee
“My first memory of Bob Ross was like many – watching him on PBS.” While Chris Taylor’s first encounter with Bob may have been similar to many teenagers in the 1980s and 1990s, his later encounters with the PBS icon were not the ordinary kind.
After seeing “The Joy of Painting” on WIPB-TV, Chris and his grandmother began trying their own hands at Bob’s wet-on-wet technique. In order to be ready anytime the painting bug bit, the two would stock up on supplies at Painted Memories art shop in Yorktown, Indiana. It was through connections with the owner that Chris first met Bob. Reflecting back on it now, Chris has said, “From the first time I met Bob in person, his encouragement in my skills and me as a person … led to this relationship and this friendship. I didn’t realize how special that was at the time, but I certainly do now.”
Chris Taylor and Bob Ross at the WIPB television studio on Ball State University’s campus, early 1990s. Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor.
As Minnetrista worked on developing the Bob Ross Experience, Chris generously shared his memories of Bob with our staff. As a mentor to Chris, Bob would exchange letters with the budding artist and whenever he was in town he would try to meet with Chris – often inviting him to the television studio to watch the filming of “The Joy of Painting.” During one such visit Bob and the WIPB crew had a rare hiccup – causing Bob to stop filming partway through an episode and begin again. Handing the partially finished canvas over to his young friend, Bob told Chris to take the canvas home and finish it himself. What resulted was a unique canvas completed by mentor and mentee.
“To Chris, A special friend and fellow artist. Happy Painting, Bob Ross.” Autographed photo of Bob Ross to Chris. Photo Courtesy of Chris Taylor.
To this day, Chris speaks fondly of the support Bob showed him. While he of course encouraged Chris’s artistic skill, more importantly Bob supported Chris is finding his life’s passion. Today Chris is the Senior Director of Sports Production and a Lecturer in Telecommunications at Ball State University. To find out more about Chris’s story check out the documentary “The Bob Ross Experience” produced by Ball State PBS.
And if you’re interested in seeing some of Chris’s artist skill, come visit the Bob Ross Experience exhibit at Minnetrista! Visitors will find six original paintings by Chris in the recreation of the WIPB television studio. With Bob’s guidance, Chris practiced his painting skills often as a teenager. He continues the hobby today, generously sharing his gift with Bob’s fans and the Muncie community.
